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"It’s all been signed and approved, and the quarry companies have already paid the city $1.1 million," Gunter said, adding that since the city has now settled the suit, roadwork around Spring Villa will begin soon.
Gunter said the quarry settlement consisted of five measures that included:
- The quarry companies will pay to the city a cash sum in the amount of $1.1 million
- Oldcastle will install, at its own expense, an 8-inch waterline from the fire hydrant near Brown Tool & Mold Company to the westerly most entrance of Spring Villa Park. The length of said waterline is approximately 5,000 feet, and it will serve Spring Villa Park
- Oldcastle will repair, at its own expense, all existing and future sinkholes and sinkhole-related damages to properties, easements and rights-of-way owned by the city and the Opelika Utilities Board
- If the bridge crossing Little Uchee Creek suffers sinkhole-related damages, Oldcastle will repair the bridge at its own expense
- Oldcastle will indemnify the city and the utilities board from future claims and liability arising from sinkhole-related damages.
The City of Opelika had filed the civil suit against Oldcastle Materials Inc. and former quarry operator Hanson Aggregates Southeast Inc. Court documents filed by Lee County and the City of Opelika claim that deep drilling from the quarry, located between Alabama Highway 169 and Lee Road 166, just south of Opelika, is responsible for numerous sinkholes and an overwhelming loss of spring water in the surrounding area.
Lee County was awarded $2 million in its case against Oldcastle Materials Inc.
"At the present time, the only relief available to the city and Opelika utilities is monetary damages," Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said.
Tamiko Lowery / Staff Writer
SOURCE: www.oanow.com